Oranza sweeps Luzon qualifier

ANTIPOLO CITY—Ronald Oranza boosted his stock no end in the coming championship stage by sweeping the Luzon qualifying leg of the 2015 Ronda Pilipinas presented by LBC Tuesday.

With a late burst of energy, Oranza stormed past fellow national team member George Oconer in the final 200 meters and won by a bike’s length to complete a two-leg romp at the end of the  102.5-kilometer ride that began and ended at the provincial capitol here.

Oranza crossed the line in 2 hours, 34 minutes and 41 seconds while Oconer checked in 4 seconds behind. Three-time Tour champion Santy Barnachea arrived third, 6 seconds back.

“I can now say that we’re prepared to race in the championship (stage),” said Oranza, whose victory cemented his spot in the star-studded Philippine Navy Standard Insurance team led by Barnachea.

Besides topping the individual general classification, the 22-year-old former bike mechanic from Villasis, Pangasinan also captured the side events—the King of the Mountain and Sprint awards—to pocket P123,000 after the two-day Luzon qualifier for the  championship phase set Feb. 22-28.

Oconer seemed to have secured the lap victory when he accelerated ahead in the final straightaway. But Oranza zoomed past him near the finish and raised both fists in euphoria as he reached the line.

Overall, Oranza, the opening-stage winner in San Jose, Tarlac, finished 40 seconds ahead of teammate Jan Paul Morales and was 1:16 clear of Barnachea as Philippine Navy swept the podium placings.

Jhon Mark Camingao placed fourth (0:07 behind), Jerry Aquino Jr. arrived fifth (0:08) and Ronnel Hualda sixth (0:09) in the stage marked by a steep ascent in Mabitac, Laguna and a sharp and winding climb in Teresa, Rizal on the way to the finish. John Renee Mier came in seventh for the day.